Conserving, Restoring and Educating Through Fly Fishing
At the Vise FM Crayfish front view
FM (FULL MOTION) CRAYFISH Story and photos by John Johnson
I
t is generally recognized that crayfish are an important food source for smallmouth bass and trout. For years I have been looking for a fly pattern that would duplicate the crayfish that these game fish are so fond of. About 10 years ago, I tied and fished a crayfish pattern designed by Will Ryan that had rabbit claws and a deer hair over body. Then a couple of years ago I discovered a fly distributed by the Montana Fly Company called a Ritt’s Fighting Crayfish (originated by Fly Tying Group Governor Al Ritt) that had lead eyes and foam claws. Soon after seeing his pattern, I started working on a fly that combined the best attributes of each. Last winter at a fly-tying symposium in Toronto,
MATERIAL S Hook: Size #4 Curved 3X long nymph hook Thread: White 3/0 or “G” Lead eyes: Medium 1/30 oz Plastic eyes: Large Barbell Mono (Spirit River) Tag: Orange rabbit Feelers: Black silicone rubber Legs: Tan/brown silicone rubber Dubbing: Gray rabbit fur Body: Rust, olive, gray or tan Furry Foam (Wapsi)
4
Step
Tie in two 1½ inch silicone rubber legs on both sides of the fly behind the claws. Dub some additional rabbit fur over the thread.
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Flyfisher Spring - Summer 2012
Canada, I met Jim May, who tied a fly called the May’s Full Motion Crayfish. His pattern was nearly identical to the one that I was working on except for the way the legs and claws were tied to the hook. A new pattern soon jumped off my tying vise and into the water. In November 2011, I got the chance to give it a good test. It was a calm, warm evening with a full moon. At 6:15 p.m., after catching several nice smallmouth, I tied a rust-colored FM Crayfish on my leader. In just a few minutes I caught two medium smallmouth followed by a 17-incher. Just as dark was settling around me and I was getting ready to head for home, a big fish hit the fly as I was slowly retrieving it in about five feet of water. After
a shallow roll on the surface, it took off on a screaming run downstream - ripping off 40 feet of line before I could turn it back towards the canoe. Once I got it near the canoe, the fish shot under the craft and luckily I was able to push the rod tip past the bow before it shattered from the severe bend. A couple of minutes later, I landed a beautiful 18-inch smallmouth and also decided the new pattern had passed its test with flying colors.
Step
1
Step
Insert a size 4 TMC 200R hook in vice. Figureeight wrap a 1/30 oz medium lead eye near the front of hook using white G or 3/0 thread. Tie in a few orange rabbit hairs to duplicate the orange on the crayfish claws, and then follow with two black rubber legs for feelers.
Cut a 1½ inch long by ½ inch wide piece of rust Furry Foam. Taper the end and tie it in at rear of hook. Turn the hook over and rotate the Furry Foam strip. Figure-eight wrap around a pair of large Barbell Mono eyes in front of the Furry Foam to anchor them in place.
5
Step
Step
Fold the Furry Foam over and tie it off near the middle of the hook. Dub with rabbit fur from the middle to the front of the hook.
2
6
Wrap the thread through the abdomen to give it a segmented look. Wrap the Furry Foam down in front of the eyes. Tie off the thread, cut the Furry Foam to length and whip finish the head. Mark the thread over the abdomen with a brown magic marker.